Nonprofit Overview

Programs: Hias' international program assists refugees in four regions of the world: africa, latin america, the middle east, and eurasia. In africa and latin america, hias provides and funds programs to reduce the impact of displacement, violence, trauma, and suffering on refugees. These programs are supported by the united nations high commissioner for refugees ("unhcr", the un refugee agency) and other united nations entities, the u. S. Government, and other private donors. In latin america, hias offers counseling, legal and employment orientation, and humanitarian assistance to refugees of the colombian civil war with its programs in ecuador, venezuela, and panama. In 2014, hias programs in chad aided approximately 275,000 refugees in eleven camps. In nairobi, kenya and kampala, uganda, hias provides resettlement assistance, child protection, and psychosocial assistance to vulnerable refugees from more than half a dozen neighboring countries, targeted programs aid survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. In 2014, hias continued its innovative community-based strategies for refugee protection in urban areas, and build on the five new field offices in the main refugee hosting areas in nairobi and kampala it initiated the year prior through funding from the u. S. Department of state and unhcr. In vienna, austria hias works in partnership with the u. S. Department of state to operate the resettlement support center ("rsc") to assist persecuted religious minorities from iran who are seeking to resettle in america under the u. S. Refugee admissions program. The rsc provides immigration assistance needed to legally enter and be resettled in the u. S. As refugees, as well as cultural orientation to prepare refugees accepted to the u. S. Refugee admissions program for life in america. In 2014, hias assisted 1,735 iranian religious minorities to arrive safely in the united states. In israel, hias provides training and technical expertise to the israeli government, unhcr, and israeli non-governmental organizations in their mutual efforts to develop an israeli asylum system. We also award scholarships to new israeli immigrants ("olim"). In 2014, hias trained 30 new asylum officers and awarded $130,000 in 50 scholarships to students from colleges and universities throughout the country. In the russian federation, and the hias office in kyiv, ukraine offers legal counseling to refugees from 39 countries who are seeking asylum or resettlement, and monitors conditions affecting jews throughout the republics of the former soviet union and eastern europe. In 2014, hias provided legal protection services to nearly 1,400 asylum seekers, including unaccompanied minors.

in the u. S. , hias coordinates and funds refugee resettlement activities in conjunction with our national network of 30 affiliates. These activities, which are supported by the u. S. Government, private foundations, and individual donors, help current and former hias clients establish new lives in the u. S. , integrate into american society, and gain citizenship. In 2014, hias resettled 3,490 refugees in the u. S. , an 18% increase over the prior year. Our programs include the reception and placement program, which processes family reunification refugee applications, facilities the placement of refugees in specific localities, provides for their travel, ensures the provision of basic necessities, and offers essential case management services during the first 30-90 days after their arrival in the u. S. The preferred communities program provides enhanced case management services to refugees at highest risk in participating locations for up to five years after their arrival in the u. S. The citizenship program aids selected hias affiliates in developing citizenship integration programs, including naturalization (citizenship) classes and application assistance. The legal services program helps to secure legal representation for asylum seekers throughout the united states, including a living allowance through the hias-prins asylum program for asylum seekers who were scientists, scholars, artists or other types of professionals in their countries of origin and desire to continue or rebuild their career in the united states. In addition, hias provides technical assistance to our national network of resettlement affiliates on issues relating to development and implementation of the above programs and to immigration law.

the matching grant program provides basic needs support, case management and intensive employment services to certain refugees resettled by the hias resettlement network for up to six months after their arrival in the united states. The goal of this program is to enable participating refugees to become economically self-sufficient through employment before the end of this six month period. Only those refugees deemed employable, and likely to become employed in this short time frame, are selected to participate in this program. In program year 2014, 633 refugees completed the program, and 69% were self-sufficient six months after their arrival in the u. S.

Community Stories

15 Stories from Volunteers, Donors & Supporters

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I know the HIAS INC. since I and my family came to NYC as refugees. This non-profit organization was very helpful for us. The HIAS on the basis of my scholastic achievements and volunteer work considered me as a contestant for a scholarsip and I was nominated as one of the recepients of it. This helps me to achieve my educational goals and to be helpfull for the society. As a volunteer, I paricipated in a fundrazing activity with the HIAS for Darfure. All activities and communications during my experience with the HIAS have been clear, positive, productive, beneficial for people. Also, the Hias reffered me to a local community organizations, where I can be helpful and apply my scills and knowledge for to help others. For example,I do a volunteer work as a student advisor at the Hillel of Brooklyn College. The HIAS shows an example of helping in different ways to people who need help.

HIAS is an amazing organization that helps immigrants! My family was directly helped by HIAS to come to the US fromt he former Soviet Union. HIAS' Young Leadership chapters also do amazing work in the local community by mobilizing young people to be aware of the plight of refugees around the world and help to raise funds to help them.

I moved to the United States from Russian in 1994 and studied hard to learn English and do well in school here. HIAS helped me to afford college, and I am deeply grateful to them. In addition, I was new in NYC last year and looking for a meaningful organization to volunteer with. I found that in HIAS-I attended their "Interview skills" workshop where we helped recent immigrants work on their job seeking skills. In addition, I attended the Presidential election celebration in November 2008. I met some interesting people in the Jewish community and it opened up worlds for me in NYC. So, HIAS provided me with the opportunity to afford college and also give back after I finished with college.

I immigrated from the former Soviet Union in 1994 at the age of 19 arriving in the United States all alone. My immigration was made possible by HIAS, whose main mission has been and is to rescue, resettle and support those in need. HIAS helped thousands and thousands of Soviet Jews immigrate to the States in 1970s-1990ss. I received great education and made a successful career in the US. When I was at the point of my life when I had time to give back, I chose to volunteer at HIAS, the organization that made a profound difference in my life and in lives of others.
I was interested in genealogy, so after I joined one lecture given by a HIAS historian and leading genealogist, I volunteered to help with the organization of Roots and History genealogy club and became responsible for planning the club's meetings, lecture topics, club promotion, and member retention. The club was and is a great success. We have a page on MeetUp.com and if you look up Roots & History Club there, you'll see that we have 45 genealogists. Club meetings provided members with hands-on techniques on how to do one's genealogical research, while HIAS's genealogist also read a mini-lecture each time we met on different aspects of Jewish history in the Eastern Europe so everyone could put the history of their family in the context of Jewish history in 19-20th century.
I am now on maternity leave and don't manage the club anymore but the work I've done and the value it provided to me and many others was extremely rewarding and inspiring. HIAS never brags about the great work they do, they just do what's important to rescue peo9ple in need and to promote Jewish values and history. For that, I keep this organization in the highest regard, and as soon as I can continue my volunteering there, I will.

HIAS helped my family come to the United States from the former USSR. It's an organization that helps everyone instead of only focusing on jews. It's a pleasure to support a non-profit that I know, first hand, has helped so many people.

-- Hias helped me and my family to emigrate from Iran to USA. With out this organization, we would still be in IRAN and have to deal with prejudice and religious persecutions.
-- Also I received multiple scholarships from Hias, which helped my tremendously with my financial hardship at the time.
-- I volunteered at Hias for about 2 years. We had fundraising events… we had programs to help new immigrants…

I have been a volunteer with HIAS in their Young Leaders program for the last two years and we always say that once you get involved with HIAS you can never leave! HIAS is an amazing organization that truly cares about every immigrant and refugee population worldwide! They take the Jewish Perspective of Welcoming the Stranger and practically and pragmatically apply this philosophy (successfully) in all the resettlement and assistant programs they provide, both in and outside the U.S. I look forward to continue to work with them!

Your connection to HIAS (family?)
Raised by immigrant parents who fled Iran, I saw first-hand the many wonderful ways in which HIAS has made a lasting impact for Jews and non-Jews alike and continues to help people in-need.
In fact, on a personal level my family – my aunt and a number of my cousins – were generously assisted by HIAS after the Islamic Revolution in Iran. HIAS issued them visas, which allowed them to go to Vienna, Austria – where they helped them get temporary housing and complete the proper documentation necessary to facilitate their immigration to the United States.
Why you are involved in HIAS YL:
So, when I moved to Los Angeles about three and a half years ago to begin my graduate studies, naturally the first organizations I sought-out was HIAS. I wanted to give back to the organization that had given so much to my family. Fortunately, I connected with the Young Leaders chapter here in LA, and I have been active ever since.
I found a wonderful way to help my community, and also an energetic group of young like-minded people that I really enjoy spending time with. Now, close friends!
It has introduced me to a cohort of wonderful new friends while giving me a way to get active, and take a leadership role, in issues that matter. HIAS Young Leaders offers a great social and professional network. In the short few years that I’ve been involved I’ve been a part of so many great programs – dinners, benefit parties, and educational events.
The most memorable event for me is the HIAS Young Leaders Mission to New York and Washington DC. It was an amazing four-day trip, which allowed me to meet many other Young Leaders, and actively participate in the advocacy process!

Hi my name is Rebeka Rokhsar, and I was one of the recipients of Hias scholorship last year, 2008. I am so appreciative of this help because it helped me to continue my education. Now, I am finishing my first semester in nursing program and paying my tuition with the help of Hias scholorship.
This scholorship was a big help for me to achieve my educational goals.
I express my sincerest appreciation to those who donated to this non profit organization, and become a means of helping students like me.
Thank you so much.
Sincerely,
Rebeka Rokhsar